“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.â€
2 Timothy 1:7
Ministering in Costa Rica
Julia Reininga, head coach for the Lady Warriors Volleyball team, watches as a young player demonstrates a serve during a volleyball clinicin Costa Rica. Reininga and members of the team conducted the clinics, shared their testimonies and bought food for a ministry to single mothers. They appreciate the SWU family’s prayers and support during this past week! See more on their Facebook page.
Family history presented
Sarah Pitts-Holmes, left, along with her sister, Mary Pitts-Brown, right, presents a copy of the Pitts and Harbin Family History to Bob Sears, director of the Rickman Library at SWU and Anne Sheriff, director of the Clayton Family Research Center, located at the library on the Central campus. Pictured in the foreground is Vada Pitts-Henderson, Sarah and Mary’s aunt. Read more>>
Clayton ministers in Honduras
Dr. Larry Clayton, member of the SWU Board of Visitors, recently returned from a six-day mission trip to Honduras, sponsored by Baptist Medical and Dental Missions International, largely serving the Honduras-Nicaragua area. He preached the Gospel in Spanish two and three times a day, sometimes beginning at 6:30 a.m. in an open tent with men, women, children wandering around, nursing mothers, and occasional stray dogs!
Statement regarding dinner theme
Late last week it was learned that the Federal Department of Education was investigating a high school in Arizona for holding a student spirit day themed around the television series, “Duck Dynasty®.†Certain members of that school and community contended that the activities and some of the costumes of the day created a “racially hostile environment.â€
As you are aware, promotion for SWU’s Employees Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, Aug. 13 made reference to Duck Dynasty®. There was never any intent to tie our dinner to anything disagreeable. While we believe the perceived issues in Arizona arose from student dress and behavior and not from any program content, we, as a community, want to avoid anything that might be viewed as offensive. Therefore, we won’t be making reference to Duck Dynasty®. The theme of “Camo and Crystals†will remain intact, however.
One of the core values of SWU is that we be a Christ-centered Community. That kind of community means that to the extent possible we want our diverse body to feel safe, encouraged, and welcomed. We hope this decision is in keeping with that value.
Keith Iddings
Provost
Employees Recognition Dinner
Reserve your seats now for our kick-off event of the new academic year where we honor employees who have reached years of service milestones and we welcome new employees to our community. This year’s dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13 and will be held in The Founders (University Dining Commons). Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. This gives everyone time to mingle and enjoy some appetizers. A dinner buffet starts at 6 p.m.
Please remember that this is a free event for adults; employees may bring a guest.RSVPs are now being taken at dfrost@swu.edu. As you RSVP, remember to indicate if 1 or 2 are attending.
